How far is Isolate Verification from success?

The Bitcoin global development community will hold a new Scaling Bitcoin conference this weekend. The focus of the conference is on some of the more pressing issues related to network development, such as solving block congestion problems through capacity expansion.

Scaling Bitcoin started in 2015, aiming to solve the ever-intensifying expansion contradiction and expand the user base. The Scaling Bitcoin conference held this weekend will also focus on expansion issues, including Segregated Witness (SegWit). Since its introduction, Segregated Witness has been highly sought after by the community and has also been the focus of heated discussion.

No major updates will be released at this meeting. However, Bitcoin developers said that the release of the isolated verification activation code will bring huge downloads and testing. This also means that isolated verification is one step closer to its official release.

But before releasing it, developers must test it for potential vulnerabilities.

Bitcoin Core developer Eric Lombrozo said they must be careful to ensure that segregated witness is compatible with other updates, such as recently released software.

We are currently in the process of making significant changes to our network.

Bitcoin Core developer Bryan Bishop added:

One of the issues facing isolated verification is how to be compatible with compact blocks.

Compact blocks were successfully deployed in August this year. When nodes "communicate" with each other, compact blocks can help nodes send data faster and more efficiently.

In addition to waiting patiently, we should also be excited about the release of SegWit, because after the code is released, it will double the amount of Bitcoin transactions and is likely to resolve various disputes related to Bitcoin expansion.

Segregated verification not only rapidly increases the network's transaction processing capacity, but also lays the foundation for the development of some potential expansion projects in the future.

Segregated verification also solves交易延展性问题（transaction malleability） . Once this problem is solved, the Lightning Network can also be successfully deployed.

So, what exactly needs to be done before this much-anticipated expansion code officially takes effect?

Officially effective

Bitcoin Core 0.13.0, released in August, first included the segregated witness code, but it was not officially activated.

According to Core developers, the SegWit code will be available for download when 0.13.1 is released, and bitcoin miners will then be able to indicate whether they support the scheme by updating their clients.

The Bitcoin Core website states that the segregated verification code will be in a "locked" state at first. If the previous 2016个区块(about two weeks of transactions) are broadcast with the new code, then after two weeks (that is, after another 2016 blocks), the segregated verification code will be officially effective.

Core recently stated in a blog post:

The operation of the full node of the isolated verification code requires miners to execute a new round of isolated verification consensus rules.

Lombrozo said that Core developers hope that the process can be done as quickly as possible because in about two to three months, another major Bitcoin update,检查序列验证（CheckSequenceVerify，CSV） will be activated.

Far-reaching impact

The changes brought about by Segregated Witness will affect the entire Bitcoin ecosystem.

The user-facing world of bitcoin is already preparing for this, with multiple wallet providers planning to update their code to enable compatibility. Core developers say they are actively working with these companies to ensure smooth deployment of the code.

But before the code is activated, wallet providers don’t have to do anything. BitGo head Benedict Chan believes this situation is similar to the philosophical question of which came first, the chicken or the egg.

Chan estimates that the Segwit update will take about five weeks to be finalized.

Five weeks is neither too long nor too short, so we will consider whether to update after the specific activation date is announced.

Core developers also recommend that users wait a few weeks after the code is activated before upgrading, so that they can be 100% sure that the vast majority of people on the network agree with the new rules brought about by isolated verification.

Lombrozo believes that this is a flexible process because wallet providers can choose to upgrade at the appropriate time. However, if they wait too long, they may not be able to benefit from it.

Win the hearts and minds of the people?

However, some people are not optimistic about this update.

Jonathan Toomim, the organizer of Bitcoin Classic, who had declared support for large blocks in the previous Scaling Bitcoin, still has doubts about Segregated Verification and believes that it cannot restore users' interest in Bitcoin.

When asked if there was any way to change his opinion on SegWit, he remained adamant, saying he was more optimistic about other blockchain platforms such as ETH and Zcash.

Toomim said he would not change his opinion no matter what.

Segregated Witness limits Bitcoin’s growth, wastes developer time, and allows competing coins to lose market share.

I think Segwit will not be very effective in scaling, and it’s too late.

As for whether other people feel the same way, it depends on the specific situation after the isolation verification is activated.